The Best $20 You Can Spend on Your Car To Prepare for Spring
Written by
Diana Kelly Levey
Edited by
Jasmine Browley
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There’s a lot you can do to get your car springtime ready for just $20. Include a few of these items below as part of your car’s spring maintenance budget and if your car is otherwise in good shape, you’ll be set to cruise well past summer with fewer issues.
Keep in mind that no matter what, if you don’t have them already, you should try to pick up most of the key items we outline here to ensure you’re prepared for emergencies.
Carbon Filter
All of that dust, pollen and dirt you drive through every day has to go somewhere in your car. A cabin filter helps capture airborne particles before they reach your car’s cabin.
While it’s important for every car to have a clean air filter, those who suffer from allergies or have breathing issues like asthma should check the status of this filter, stat. Consult your car’s manual to see which cabin filter is recommended before installing this yourself. Then, set a reminder to change your cabin filter about 12 months from now.
You can find most cabin filters between $10 and $20 at Walmart, your local auto store or similar retailers.
Windshield Wiper Blades
OK, finding a high-quality pair of these for $20 might be a stretch, but you can get one wiper blade for less than $20. The cost of wiper blades depends on the material and type. Search according to your car’s year, make and model. There’s probably a wider variety of wiper blades out there than you might guess.
De-Icer Fluid
For those of us who live in a space where “spring” means winter 2.0 for a few months, consider filling up your windshield washer fluid with de-icing washer fluid. The Rain-X brand handles temperatures up to -30 degrees Fahrenheit and helps melt snow, frost and light ice faster. A one-gallon container at Walmart costs about $5.
Brake Fluid
Prepping your vehicle for spring means checking the fluids. Take a peek at your brake fluid reservoir near the back of the engine (under the hood) and make sure it’s full or at least at the minimum suggested level.
Brake fluid can help keep your car’s brake operating system functioning optimally while preventing overheating and metal corrosion. A 32-ounce bottle should do the job and costs about $12.
Roadside Ready Safety Kit
If you love shopping at Kohls for household items, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover it has great finds for your car as well. This $20 emergency kit includes a carry bag, two jumper cables, a multi-tool safety hammer, a seatbelt cutter, a flashlight and two gloves. It’s probably best to store under a seat so you can use the seatbelt cutter should you ever need it.
Flashlight Multi-Tool
While it’s useful to have a flashlight in your glove compartment for emergencies, why not ensure the valuable space is taken up with a flashlight multitool? The version from Stealth Angel Survival includes 200 lumens, an SOS signal, a glass breaking device, is solar and USB rechargeable. You can even use the power bank to charge your phone on the go.
This kind of addition to your car will be useful for hikers and those who like to go off the beaten path — but want to do it safely.
Tire Repair Aerosol Can
There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who know how to fix a flat and those who didn’t bother to learn this skill. No matter which camp you fall in, having a tire repair aerosol or Fix-a-Flat can in your arsenal can help you get out of some bumpy situations.
It won’t work miracles, but according to the brand’s marketing claims, “it seals tread area punctures up to ¼-inch in diameter” and can seal “small tire punctures in seconds and provide enough inflation to lift the rim off the ground.” A 16-oz can is $8.49 at Target.
LED Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
You could rely on your smartphone’s flashlight, or you could make sure the tire pressure gauge you keep in your glove compartment is one with an LED screen with a digital readout. No more guessing, “Is that at 30 or 32 PSI?” and relying on squinting at a dial to determine if your tires are full enough. The HUSKY version is around $20 at Home Depot.
Car Wash
Live in an area where the roads are covered with salt most of the winter? It’s a good idea to spend money on a professional car wash to help clean under the car’s carriage.
Think about it: There’s a lot of salt, debris, dirt and who-knows-what gathering under your car while you drive. You can go to a simple drive-through car wash and get the basics done for less than $10 in many places. Car experts say that keeping your vehicle clean inside and out can help it operate better for the long run.
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